Prof. Ellwood Johnson Summer I 2021 English 101 Writing Assignment # 1 Reading & Writing Rhetorically: Exigence and Context Assignment Sheet Overview Reading and writing rhetorically is all about examining the relationship between a text, and its author, audience, and occasion to gain a fuller understanding what message the text is trying to communicate and how that message gets communicated. One way to further strengthen your understanding a text’s context is to consider its exigence or the reason(s) why the text exists in the first place. The Prompt Find a written or visual text – this can be an op-ed article, an editorial, a tweet, a blog post, a podcast, an advertisement, or another type of text not listed here (just check with me) – and write a response that analyzes both the exigence or exigencies that prompted the creation of the text and its rhetorical context. Critical thinking questions to get you started. . . The text: - What topic or issue is the text addressing or speaking about? The author: - What assumptions can we make about the speaker based on the text? The purpose: - What is the speaker hoping to achieve by writing/creating this text? In other words, what do they want the audience to think, feel, believe, or do? The audience: - Who is the audience for this text? Think about the actual audience versus the ideal audience. The exigence/occasion: - What is happening in the world that necessitated the creation of this text? Guidelines for writing your essay. . . - Use the basics of good paragraph writing. o A paragraph should communicate a single unified idea. Proofread your essay for spelling, grammar, and punctuation. MLA format: 12-point font, double spaced, header & title (title should reflect the content) Length: 1-2 Double spaced pages (250 – 500 words) Due Date/Submission Requirements: Submit this assignment to Blackboard as a word document no later than 11:59 pm on Friday, June 4.
